The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-01-30

been Francisco.
IL irritateSi me 10 see 80 much importance
attached to the alibi and TO my case, he
cause had been led TO believe that the
prisoner would he held anyhow. as he was
wanted for other crimes. and a biz reward
had been offered for him. | was told, how
ever, that in Eucatan, prisoner. when he
demands IA trial must he tried or released
Inside of twelve hours. In order to hold
him therefore the San Pablo authorities had
10 make the most OF my evidence.
The alibi business worried the old alcalde
not little. The three witnesses who swore
To meeting Francisco the afternoon be-
fore reputable men. Dn the other
hand. / was a stranger and an American.
Several times during the day ] WIS recalled
10 the stand and examined AMI crtr>sS- ex-
amined. The utmost courtesy characterized
the examination, but il had latitude
that would not have been permitted IN an
American court. Frequently Spectator
would interrupt with a question or make a
suggest To the alcalde. Once Francisco
remarked that he was tired and would
take it ~ a favor if the court would hurry
up
Toward the close OF the day | saw Il man
the outskirts of the spectators whose
face and manner attracted my attention.
He the very image of Franrl~'-o, the
prisoner.
L chancsett nv position as tO e a bt't-
ter view The resemblance wonderfully
striking The man just Franchises age,
height, size AMI complexion. His >omhrero
shaded his right temple and prevented me
from seeing whether it bore the peculiar
scar which diStigtrrei the robber. His COS
tune was the same rs FranciSro's. but
nearly everybody wore hnmtSpun of th,. same
color and pattern, this did not excite my sur
prise.
If he has the scar, - | muttered. he
could pass anywhere for Francisco. 1t
would b. impossible to tell them apart
Naturally, | began to understand the
alibi The men who swore that they saw
the highwayman twenty miles away from
the scene OF his crime at the very moment he
was tying my hands, might honestly he mis-
taken. They hal seen this mysterious stran-
ger. But they had sworn to the scar. Could
i, bc Possible that the strangers face bore
such "A mark
determined to edge nv way To him in the
crowd and accidentally knock off his SOM
brero in order to Jock for the fiery crescent
When | reached that si,le of the building
the man was gone. made every effort to
find him. but finally gave it up He had
either left the room, or had shifted his posi-
ton, keeping other persons between
as to screen him from my view.
As it was growing dark four tallow can
dies were lighted but tEr gloomy stone walls
made the room hook almost as dark as ever.
| wondering what would be- the out
come of the ease, when the lights Were sud
denly blown out
Keep i'll Your places shouted an alaua-
| iii. Order III the palace of Justice,
The candles were r,.lighte,i, ami then was
beheld such scene has rarely ever been
! witnessed in court room or anyw here. else.
In front of the alcalle's bench stood two
scar faced men as much alike as two brown
peas
''Mcrciful saints" CIRCULATED an algua-
zil. DO | see double, there two
FranciScos2'
1t is the work of the devil. " suggested
II pious old man. as he crossed himself
My friend. the old alcal,ie, put on his
| spectaclts, and looked sharply at tn two
men.
''FranCrst.o,' he. called
| Each of the two men gave IA jerk of his
head, and answered To- the name
Let the American senior take the stand.
ordered the alcalde.
| In response 10 the questions put to me
admitted that could not point out the real
/ Francisco.
Three witnesses called 10 establish the
alibi were recalled. They shared my be
willerment, and coubd throw no light upon
! the case.
| The alcade scratched his head Then he
touched one of the doubles with his cane.
You, now he said what is your
name
| ''Franci>co.' was the pat reply.
Your residence and occupation:''
II have none. l am travelling about. y
| The alcal,le turned to the other man
''What is Your name
s'FrNnciSs.l -
Your residence ami occupation
Il have none. l am travelling about ="
/ The same answers. delivered i'll the very
voice and manner of the first double
| Seeing the alcable'S embarrassment. /
/ went to him and suggested that ne mpriSon
both men until the lpatter could bc looked
/ into.
II cannot do il, y he said, One is inno-
/ cent If | imprison him | snail lose NV
| place. Besides, the twelve hours will soon
| expire, and without satisfactory evidence
| must turn both loose.
| limited that il was all a put up oh. that
/ Francisco probably had IA twin brother who
/ had arranged it 10 have the lights blown out,
and had then i'll the darkness made his way
/ to- the prisoners side. thus confusing matters
/ with tie intention of cva..ng Justice.
ut r.att'rs not = -; i'll the al-alde. Two
\ mon cannot De arrested, tried and impri>-
I onri ON a y arrant against one, nor Ii
/ warrant be- is ucd a.;.in>t two. vi hen it il
/ known th1t only o-.r ,rui!tN. M. senior,
it is har,'>,.lp, douh' '~s, but ii is better TO
/ diSappOiut Justice t!!i,u 10 do in Justice"
| Then rsisiI h.> lIoad he >lid
''Ih, prisoners are ,iis,,har',ru
/ SlleItlv the crowd divided. leaving a
| broad pathway.
Down thc aisle walked the Two Franchises.
/ Each wo:r. the s,imt. scon.Ul nile Each
| gave th,, same Wi, kcd Inok odt ot his black
/ eyes. lica made tie S3t,,. bow To- the
court, and when they passed. mo noticed
TIN. tn rel sears ON ,,c.l man, temple
| were both of the .-C and Of th,. same
| fa-Iir-r color. Out ot the archc,l doorway
| vi the I;.~-e.' of Justice, out into the dark
, Ness, OFT into the region az the mysterious
and the Uii row, -, G.. the two FranCSt'o>,
I with not a u-aI % Irilcw or ~. them nay.
The next E,ornIn- my expected letter
/ came. | was inn. ructcd IL lose no time in
| returning ~ the >tatcS and left San Pablo